Visit Florida is contributing $125,000 to fill a funding gap to pay for air traffic controllers for the upcoming Sun 'n Fun Fly-in, Polk County commissioners were told Monday.

By TOM PALMERTHE LEDGER

BARTOW | Visit Florida, the state's tourism marketing corporation, is contributing $125,000 to fill a funding gap to pay for air traffic controllers for the upcoming Sun 'n Fun Fly-in, Polk County commissioners were told Monday.The discussion came during an agenda study session in connection with a proposal to reduce Polk County's proposed contribution from $75,000 to $40,000 toward the estimated $284,000 cost of bringing in 70 air traffic controllers for the annual six-day event at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport that begins April 9. Funding of air traffic controllers by the Federal Aviation Administration was cut in connection with the sequestration of funds during the budget debate in Washington, D.C.Mark Jackson, director of tourism and sports marketing, said he was able to come up with the lower amount, which comes from tourist tax funds, after Visit Florida agreed to commit funds. The rest of the money is coming from Polk County and Lakeland, which are contributing $40,000 each, and from Sun 'n Fun, he said.He said it was important to secure the funding for safety and hospitality reasons."For six days, this is the busiest airport in the world,'' Jackson said, adding the event will attract 500 foreign journalists and is the largest tourist event in Polk County.Its estimated economic impact is $57 million, he said.Commission Chairwoman Melony Bell asked whether U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson's visit last week helped."He didn't bring anything to the table," Jackson said.Commissioner George Lindsey asked how things are looking for next year's funding for controllers."I don't have an answer," Jackson said. "It's very complex."Bell asked whether Polk tourism officials had sought funds from Hillsborough County, whose hotel industry also benefits from the event's crowds."They're in turmoil right now,'' Jackson said, explaining the head of Hillsborough's economic development agency recently resigned."It was so late, we're lucky we got Visit Florida,'' he said.